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Mukkulathor

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Mukkulathor
File:Dakdrblogpot.jpg
Regions with significant populations
All over Tamilnadu
Languages
Tamil
Religion
Hinduism,Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Tamil people

Mukkulathor or Mukulathaar (Tamil: முக்குலத்தோர்) is used to refer to the trinity of ancient royal lineages. It can be roughly translated as "people of the three clans", a reference to the three aristocratic clans (Kallar, Maravar and Agamudayar) which have supplied the Tamil country with most of its royal dynasties and warriors. Mukkalathors are reverently addressed to as "Thevars," meaning "Great Lord" by other Tamils.

Clans

The Kallar, Maravar and Agamudaiyar communities constitute the Kshatriya or warrior class of TamilNadu, South India. They are all believed to have originated from an ancient people called kalabhrar.


Surnames

The surnames used by the Thevar people are Ambalakarar, Servai, Vandaiyar, Thalaivar, Nattaar (not Nadar), etc. Women use the title Nachiyaar and it is a general practice in Southern Tamil Nadhu to address a Thevar woman as "Nachchiyaar".

The Kallars of Trichy, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramnad Districts have very distinct surnames. Some of the most common names are Alathondamar, Aarsuthiyar,Kaadavaraayar, Kalingarayar, Vandaiyaar, Thanjaraayar, Chozhangaraayar, Kandiyar, Pursaar, Vaanavaraayar, Mazhavaraayar, Pallavaraayar,Ponnapoondar,Pullavaraayar, Servai, Karaimeendar,Vanavarayar,Vairayar,Ponpethiar,Gopalar, Thevar, Kandapillai, Vayaadiyar, Vanniar, Nattar, Alankara Priyar, Munaiyatriyar, Saaluvar, Manraayar,Kaadavaraayar, Madhavarayar, Onthiriyar, Serumadar, Vambaliar, Thenkondaar, Mankondaar, Kaaduvetiyaar, Sozhagar, Chozanga Nattar etc. There are over 700 surnames in use.

There is a group of Agamudayars in Northern Tamil Nadhu (Thiruvannamalai, Vellor, Arani, Arcot).They migrated from Madurai in 17th century. They have other surnames like Udayar,Mudhaliyar, Arcot Mudhaliyar and Thuluva Vellalar. Not That much Marriages happen between people with the same surname.

Religion

They are traditionally Hindus although some have become Christians. Today they constitute a significant part of the Tamil community in India, Sri Lanka, and in other parts of the world.

In Inscriptions

Inscription, from 1655, records an accord between the Sthanathar, the Chetti merchant community, and the Nattar to contribute fifty Kalanju of gold to the Elunattu Mutt at Chidambaram. Link

Current Status

Although a great many of the members are still agriculturalists, many have also progressed up the social ladder as doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, politicians and civil servants. Large number of people from the community are serving the nation as military men. Large number of people serving the tamilnadu police department.

The code of suicide by warriors or maravars in ancient tamilnadu

Avippali, Thannai, Verttal, Vallan pakkam, Pun Kilithu Mudiyum Maram and Marakkanchi: the forms of martial suicide and suicidal battle of the warrior as the ultimate expression of his loyalty to his commander. These six forms of martial suicide are defined as described by the works referred to above.

Pulla Vazhkai Vallan Pakkam – the martial attitude of the warrior who goes forth into suicidal battle is mentioned by Tholkappiyam. The other works refer to it as Thannai Verttal. Duarte Barbosa describes the practice among the Nayar (of the Chera kingdom). It was later noticed by British officials as well. It was also prevalent among the Maravar (of the Pandya kingdom) from whom the suicidal Aapathhuthavi bodyguard was selected. Thannai Verttal also refers to the suicide of a warrior on hearing that his king or commander has died (Purapporul Venpa Malai). Punkilithu Mudiyum Maram is the martial act of a warrior who commits suicide by tearing apart his battle wound.

Another form of martial suicide mentioned by all the works except Veera soliyam, is Avippali. Tamil inscriptions speak of it as Navakandam. Inscriptions found in many parts of Tamilnadu provide greater information on the practice. Navakandam is the act of a warrior who slices his own neck to fulfil the vow made to korravai – the Tamil goddess of war – for his commanders’ victory in battle. The Kalingathu Parani(10) – a work which celebrates the victory of the Chola king Kulotunga and his general Thondaman in the battle for Kalinga, describes the practice in detail. “The temple of korravai is decorated with lotus flowers which bloomed when the warriors sliced their own necks”(106); “they slice the base of their necks; the severed heads are given to the goddess”(111); “when the neck is sliced and the head is severed, the headless body jumps with joy for having fulfilled the vow”(113).

The epics of Chilapadikaram (5: 79-86) and Manimekalai (6: 50-51) mention the practice. To ensure the complete severing of the head, the warrior tied his hair to a bamboo bent taut before he cut his neck. Hero stones depicting this practice are found all over Tamil Nadu, and are called Saavan Kallu by locals. The warriors who thus committed suicide were not only deified in hero stones (saavan kallu) and worshipped but their relatives were given lands which were exempted from tax(11).

An area handbook (Tharamangalam) of the Tamilnadu archeology department notes that “the Nava Kandam sculpture which is found widely all over Kongu Nadu (Coimbatore, Salem) is to be seen at the Tharamangalam Kailasanathar kovil also. The people call it Saavan Kallu. “The practice of Nava Kandam existed in Kongu Nadu till the early part of this century.”(12)

A Saavan Kallu at Thenkarai Moolanatha sami Kovil in Madurai, depicting the act of a warrior holding his hair with his left hand and slicing his neck with his right – 14th century – is said to be annually worshipped by the Conjeevaram Mudaliyars.(13) The Conjeevaram Mudaliyars are Kaikolar, a presentday weaving caste which was militarized under the Chola empire and was made into a special military body; there are indications that Kaikolar warriors practiced Nava Kandam(14).

Apart from these codified forms of martial suicide, a method called Vadakkiruththal is mentioned in Tamil heroic poetry. It is the act of a warrior king fasting to death, if some dire dishonour were to come upon him(15). The Tamil teacher, and the Dravidian propagandist, turned the song of the legendary Chera king Irumborai who committed suicide when he was taken captive by his enemies into a compelling theme in Tamil renaissance.

The Avippali form of martial suicide as the ultimate expression of loyalty to one’s commander, is deeply embedded in the Tamil psyche. Senchorru-kadan (the debt of red rice) is a phrase that is widely used today by Tamils as an expression of loyalty. One frequently hears of it in a popular Tamil song. The phrase sands for the ritual of partaking of rice by which Maravar and other Tamil military caste warriors bound themselves to their king or commander to die in suicidal battle for him, or to commit suicide on the day he was slain. Of Avippali, the Puraporul Venba Malai ( 92) says, “thinking of nothing but the red (blood) rice the Maravar give their life as offering in battle.”

The ritual of red or blood rice was described by two Muslim travellers who had visited the Tamil country in the 9th century. “A quantity of cooked rice was spread before the king, and some three or four hundred persons came of their own accord and received each a small quantity of rice from the king’s own hands, after he himself had eaten some. By eating of this rice, they all engage themselvesto burn themselves on the day the king dies or is slain; and they punctually fulfill their promise.”(16) In modern times it has been observed that “when a Maravar takes food in the house of a stranger, he will take a pinch of earth and put it on the food before he commences his meal.”(17) This act freed him from the debt of blood rice.

Some also committed suicide by eating bricks.

Other version

Kallar, Maravar, Agamudaiyar basically are the Pandiya and chola caste who ruled the pandiya nadu and chola nadu.

Kallar mainly lived and are still populas on the northern pandian territory or Thanjavur, Thiruchirappalli, Dindugal, Madurai districts.

Agamudaiyar formed the police force and did security jobs. They bascially stood guard for Temple, Farm lands, Nadan hamlets. They are called servai in Thirunalveli, Thoothukudi districts. Maruthu Sagothararkal are marked for their guard of Kalayar koil against the war with British. They are scaterd all thro Pandiyan Territory mainly to all temple cities.

Maravar are brave warriors who met head-on. They lived and are still populas on the northern Pandian Territory next to Kallar belt in the districts of Ramnad, Madurai, Raja Palayam, Thirunelveli. They shared the ruling titles of Pandiyans for their bravery. Raja of Ramnad is the fact for this.

When the pandian suffered defeat at the hands of Nayaks and Muslims of Vijayanagar Empire, These 3 castes stood guard and gave their life in protecting the assets of Madurai Meenakshi temple and its chain of temples down south. They retained the pandian control and still are dominant in the southern pandiyan districts of Tamilnadu.


Movies

Many tamil movies have portrayed the royalty, valour, pride, culture and practises of the Mukkulathor and most of the movies did well at the box-office. Some of them includes

List of Prominent Mukkulathors

File:Thevar 05.gif
U.(Pasumpon) Muthuramalinga Thevar, one of the icons of the Freedom Movement, is credited with unifying the Kallars,Maravars and Agamudayars and reforming the Mukkulathor social system

Although this list attempts to enlist the prominent Mukkulathhors, this is to state that this list is not exhaustive and is hence bound to miss-out the 'more' prominent Thevars as well.


File:Raja raja cholan.jpg
Raja raja cholan

Royalty

  • Most Pandiya kings (e.g., Nedunchezhiyan)
  • Most Chola kings (e.g., Rajaraja Chola)
  • Vallal Paari
  • Vaalukku Veli Pandiya King
  • Sethupathis of Ramnad
  • Earlier Chera Kings
  • Maruthu Pandiyar sagotharargal
  • Thondaimans of Pudhukottai
  • Charubala Thondaiman of Pudukottai
  • Maduranthaki Nachiar of Sivagangai
  • Duraichi of Nerkattum saeval
  • Sivagnana Pandian of Sayalgudi
A Pandya king and queen worshipping Lord Shiva

Writers and Journalists

  • Thirumangai Azhwar
  • Ilango Adigal
  • Thiruvalluva Thevar(alias Mailai Kilar)
  • Arunmozhi thevar(alias chezkilar(Mudali) or uthama chola pallavaraiyar)
  • Nakkeera thevar
  • Meikanda thevar
  • Thiruthhakka thevar
  • Pandithurai thevar - founder of 4th Tamil sangam
  • Pulavar Na. Mu. Venkadasamy Nattar - Tamil language & History Researcher
  • Devaneya Paavanar - Tamil Scholar & Researcher
  • M.Natarajan, Puthiya Parvai Editor
  • Pulamai Pithan

Freedom Fighters

  • Puli Devar- First person in India to fight and win over the British
  • Muthu Vaduganathar
  • Bahadur Vellaiyathevar
  • Valivitta Thevar
  • Queen Velu Nachiyar
  • Maruthu Pandiyar brothers - The legendary Tamil warrior brothers stand as an epitome for bravery and courage in Tamil Nadu.
File:Maruthu.gif
Statue of the Great Maruthu Pandiyar Brothers

Politicians and Administrators

  • P. Rathinavelu Thevar, Tiruchi Municipality Chairman 1924-46
  • Late Ayyanan Ambalam, Leader of Forward Block Party
  • LG (MDMK)
  • Nallakannu, Communist leader
  • Tha. Pandiyan, Communist leader
  • Sasivarna thevar
  • Sasikala Natarajan
  • Natarajan
  • Late.G.M.Premkumar Vandayar, Founder Mooventhar Munnettra Kazhagam,Chidambaram.
  • Dr. N. Sethuraman, MMK, Founder of Meenakshi mission hospital, Madurai
  • Sridhar Vandaiyar, Mooventhar Munnettra Kazhagam
  • Dr.BT.Kumar, founder,Dravida Vizhipunarchi Kazhakam
  • Actor M.R.Karthik Leader of TN AIFB(2005 ONWARDS)


Ministers of Central Government

Ministers of State Government

  • Thiru S. D. Somasundaram former revenue minister(1991-1996)
  • Dr.Anbazhagan General sec DMK and Finance minister
  • O. Paneerselvam Former Chief minister of TN
  • Late, Anbil Dharmalingam
  • Mannai Narayanasamy Former
  • Alagu Thirunavukkarasu
  • K.C.Mani Minister for Cooperation
  • I.Periyasamy, Minister of Law
  • Thangam Then Arasu, B.E
  • Suba. Thangavel
  • Sathyamoorthy
  • Pon. Muthuramalingam, B.A, B.L, Ex-Minister.
  • Late thiru Pasumpon Tha Kiruttinan - Ex-Minister
  • MR.Thangapandian Ex-minister
  • S.Thirunavukkarasan M.P
  • N.Nainar Nagendran M.A
  • K.Ayyaru Vandaiyar Former
  • A.M.Paramasivam Former
  • Durairaj Former
  • R.Vaithiyalingam Ex Minister
  • Dr.K.Ponmudi P.hd.,B.L.,Minister of higher education and mines.
  • T.M. Anbarasu Minister of Laboure.

Members of Parliament (M.P)

  • L.Ganesan BA, BL, MP,
  • T.T.V. Dinkaran, M.P.,
  • M. S. K. Bhavani Rajenthiran, (M.P, Ramnad)
  • R.V.Swaminathan Ex M.P
  • Dindigul Seenivasan Ex M.P
  • O.S.Manian Ex Rajya sabha M.P
  • Thanga Tamil Selvan M.P
  • R.Kamaraj Ex M.P
  • Poondi K.Thulasi Ayya Vaandaiyar Ex M.P
  • Singaravadivelu Ex M.P
  • Tiruchi Siva M.P
  • Rajan Chellappa Ex M.P
  • K.Maaya Thevar From Ex M.P Usilampatti
  • P.V.Rajendran Ex.M.P
  • Dr.V.Rajeshwaran Ex.M.P

Members of Legislative Assembly (M.L.A)

  • Chellapandian (former tn assembly speaker 1962-1967)
  • Sedapatti Muthiah (former tn assembly speaker 1991-1996)
  • K.Kalimuthu (former tn assembly speaker 2001-2006)
  • R.Avudaiyappan B.L.( tn assembly speaker 2006 onwards)
  • S.Kathar Batsha (a) Vellaisamy Thevar (Ex-MLA Muthukulathur)
  • P.Moorthy (M.L.A, Sholavandan)
  • V.Karupasamy Pandian
  • N.MalaiRaja M.A.
  • A.K.Bose
  • Rama. Subhuramaniyam B.Sc
  • Thiruvadanai KR.Ramaswamy
  • A.Tharmalingam Ex
  • Atthani S.Kalaimugan
  • M.S.K. Satyendran Ex M.L.A (ramnad)
  • Late M.S.K Rajenthiran Ex M.L.A (ramnad)
  • V.G.Manimegalai Ex.M.L.A(aruppukottai)
  • Late, Anbil Poyyamozhi
  • S.Gurunathan Ex
  • K.Kittu Ex M.L.A (saidapet)
  • K.Thangamuthu Ex M.L.A
  • P.V.Rajendran Ex M.L.A
  • M.Dhandayuthapani Ex M.L.A
  • Late P.U.Shanmugam Ex-Minster
  • R.Singaram Ex M.L.A * T.Vediyappan Ex-M.L.A.
  • R.Sridharan Tiuvannamalai Municiple Chairman.
  • J.Anbazhagan Ex-M.L.A
  • Kalairajan B.A,B.L.,M.L.A
  • Late S.Angamuthu Naicker Ex-M.L.A(Attur)
  • N.R.Rengarajan B.com M.L.A (pattukkottai)

Mayors of Tamilnadu

karate thiyagarajan ex. deputy mayor of chennai

  • Smt. Charubala thondaiman, Mayor, Trichy
  • M. Anbalagan B.A., Deputy Mayor
  • P.M.Mannan, Deputy Mayor, Madurai
  • K.Muthu RamaLingam, Deputy mayor, Nellai
  • S.Viswanatha Pandian, Ex Depty Major,Nellai

Judges

  • Justice RathnaVel Pandian, Supreme court Judge and Chairman of V pay commission
  • Justice R.Gurusamy, Former TNPSC member

Civil services

  • Malaichamy, I.A.S, also served as State Election commission officer in India.
  • Palanichamy, Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner
  • Rajendran, I.A.S, Tamil Development, Hindu Religious and culture & Information public relation
  • Ayyar Sollai, I.A.S
  • Ramalingam I.A.S
  • Vivekanadan I.A.S
  • Ramramasundaram I.A.S
  • Arumugam, I.A.S
  • S.Rajarathinam I.A.S
  • Karpurasundara Pandian I.A.S
  • V.Palanisamy I.A.S
  • S.Karuthaya Pandian I.A.S
  • N. Sivanesan, I.A.S
  • U.Subramanian, I.A.S
  • Sivasubramanian, I.A.S
  • N Balachandran, I.A.S
  • S.N.Karupanan, I.A.S
  • A.N.Dhyaneswaran, I.A.S
  • V.S.Rajhan, I.P.S
  • D.S. Panjabagesan I.P.S
  • Pon Paramaguru, I.P.S
  • Sivanandi.P I.P.S
  • Periyaiya, I.P.S (villupuram S.P)
  • Velladurai, Encounter specialist
  • ThamaraiKanan, IPS
  • Patcha Thani Manickam S.P retired
  • E.Masanamuthu, I.P.S
  • Sankara Vadivelu, IRS, Customs & C.Excise
  • Xavier ,DSP Nellai
  • K.Palanichamy, ADSP, Tiruvallur
  • Chandra Bose, DC
  • Pon Manickavel, S.P
  • Kaliyamoorthy, S.P.

Scientists and Academicians

  • Mr. Ayyadurai, Dean of Madurai Kamaraj University
  • Dr. Ramasubramaniyam, Psychiatrist, Madurai
  • Dr. M.Rajagopal M.S Ortho {former dean kilpauk medical college}
  • Dr. P.Periyakaruppan, Head & Director,Political science,Madurai Kamaraj University
  • Dr. Kanagaraj, Chennai
  • Dr. Kumarasamy, MBBS, Nellai
  • Dr. Manikandan, Orthopedic Surgeon, Nellai
  • Late Shri Dr. Shanmuga bhaskar, Transplant Surgeon, Chennai
  • Dr. N Mohandoss, IMA President, Thanjavur
  • Prof.Dr. V.Varadarajanjan,pioneer surgeon,Former IMA,IMC,ASI President, Thanjavur
  • Dr.V.Vidyasankar FRCS,laparoscopic surgeon, U.K
  • Dr. M Sundaramoorthy, Dharmapuri
  • Mr. C.Shanmugarajan
  • Pundi Krishnasamy Vandaiyar, B.Tech
  • Dr. Thillai T. Vallal, Cardiologist,MD,DM(Cardio)
  • Mr. Ramesh Muthusamy, B.E., Software Consultant, USA.
  • Dr. S.Kannan M.Sc., Ph.D. Reader & Head Department of Biotechnology
  • Dr. M. Kirshnan, Professor of Biotechnology, BARD
  • Dr. K. Muthuchezian Professor of Energy, MKU
  • Dr. Renganathan Sivabalan, NTU, Singapore
  • Dr. S. Jayakumar, Chief Technology Officer, Epigon Media Technologies
  • Mr. Arun Marimuthu, Research Fellow, NUS, Singapore

Business

  • P.Palanisamy (PRP groups-granites,roadways,exports)
  • Paul Pandian, Founder of Axes Technologies
  • Avudayanikottai P.Karuppaiya
  • M.V.Muthuramalingam, Chairperson, Velammal Engineering College
  • Solaimalai thevar, Ambiga groups
  • MJF.Ln.Leo Muthu Sri Sai Ram Engineering college
  • K.Maruthupandiyan, Chairperson Maruthupandiyar College of arts and Science
  • Arunachalam (chairperson -Student Xerox)
  • P.T.Subbiah ( Kumar Granites )
  • S.Mani, Industrialist , Trichy

Movies, Film and Arts

Artists

File:VPK-intro1.jpg
Sivaji Ganesan is universally regarded as the best character actor in Tamil cinema and grouped with amongst the best in India.
  • Late actor Sivaji Ganesan
  • Late Sankarathaas Swamikal Naadaka Thanthai
  • Late actor P.U.Chinnappa
  • Chinnappa Thevar, Producer, Founder of Thevar films
  • Late actor R. Muthuraman
  • Actor S.S.Rajendran
  • Actress Manorama - Guinness record Holder
  • Late actor O.A.K. Thevar
  • Vairamuthu - Popular Lyricist
  • Thiru. A. Ramiah Thevar, President - Indian Film Chamber of Commerce
  • Music director Chandrabose
  • Actor Prabhu Ganesan
  • Actor and politician Karthik Muthuraman
  • Actor Vivek
  • Actor Arunpandian
  • Actor S.S. Chandran
  • Actor Vinuchakravarthy
  • Actor Rajesh
  • Actor Senthil
  • Actor Sangili murugan
  • Actor Chandrasekar
  • Actor Manoj bharathiraja
  • Actor Periyakaruppu thevar
  • Actor J.K.Rithesh

Directors

References

See also

External links

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